Tumbling machine



March 23, 1965 J. P. DI GREGORIO 3,174,492

7 TUMBLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JAMESP. DIGREGORIO ATTORNEY March 1965 .J. P. D] GREGORIO 3,174,492

TUMBLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4 5

INVENTOR JAMES P. DIGREGORIO MW 0 7 WATTORNEY United States Patent3,174,492 TUMBLING MACHINE James P. Di Gregorio, 239 Admiral St.,Providence, RI. Filed Sept. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 307,827 1 Claim. (Cl.134-104) The present invention relates to improvements in tumblingmachines.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved tumblingmachine wherein the articles to be tumbled are sealingly confined in thetumbling tank with the tumbling liquid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtumbling machine wherein the tumbling tanks are imperforate and containthe articles to be tumbled with the liquid and separator means areassociated with the tumbling tanks to separate the articles from theliquid upon completion of the tumbling operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtumbling machine wherein multiple tumbling tanks can be conjointlyoperated with a common drive means.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved tumbling machine wherein the tumbling liquid is contained inthe tumbling tank with the articles to be tumbled and separated from thearticles after tumbling, there being means provided for returning theliquid to the tanks for re-use.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improvedtumbling machine which conserves space, provides ease in handling,lowers labor costs and is cleaner to utilize.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from thedetailed description to follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the tumbling machine;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a detail view of one of the tumbling tanks; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the tumbling tank of FIGURE 4,with part being broken away.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals referto like parts throughout, it will be seen that I have provided animproved tumbling machine which includes a framework 12, tumbling tanksor barrels 14, drive means 16, separator means 18, liquid reservoirmeans 20 and pump means 22.

The framework 12 is of simple construction including four verticalcorner angle irons 24 joined at the top and at the bottom by the frontbars 26, rear bars 28 and side bars 30. For support of the drive means16, cross bars are provided at 32, 34 and 36, 38. Motor supports 40 arecarried by the side bars 30 and cross bars 32 and 38.

Also, for the support of the tumbling tanks 14, the bars 42 join thevertical corner angle irons 24 at the sides. As seen in FIGURE 3additional vertical supports are provided at 44 at the front and rear ofthe framework. The bars 46 extend front to rear connecting the verticalsupports 44 for support of the tanks 14 as will be described. Additionalbars 48 extend front to rear for the support of the separator means 18.

Having reference now to FIGURES 4 and 5, the structure of the tanks 14will be described. Each tank is preferably constructed of wood tooctagonal shape with closed ends 50 and an opening 52 in one of thefaces thereof. Each end 50 has a flanged bearing stud 54, 56

3,174,492 Patented Mar. 23, 1965 secured thereto, as by screws 58. Thestuds are journalled in the bearings 60 carried by the bars 46 and 48.

The closures 62 for the openings 52 are constructed of wood at 64beveled to cooperate with the beveled opening. A rubber or rubber-likegasket 66 overlies the wood 64 to cooperate with the mouth of theopening 52. A metal backing plate 68 is joined to the wood 64 by boltsto clamp the gasket therebetween and to sealingly hold the gasketagainst the tank when clamped as will presently be described.

At each end of each tank a cam lock plate 70 is secured with a portionoutstanding at 72 in line with and over the closure 62. A rod 74 isprovided with a handle 76 and cam locks 78 adapted to bear against theplate 68. The rod 74 has its ends engaged in the slots 80, see FIGURE 1,so that when the handle 76 is rotated the cam locks 78 bear against theplate 68 to sealingly clamp the closure 62 over the opening in the tank.When it is desired to open a tank, the handle is reversely rotated andthe whole handle and rod assembly is removed by disengagement from theslots 80 and then the closure can be removed.

The drive means 16 includes two electric motors 82, one for each pair oftanks. Each motor has a chain drive including chains 84, 86, 88 oversprockets 90, 92, 94, 96; and 98, 100, so as to drive a pair of tanks.

The separator means 18 includes a trough 102 for each tank, slidablysupported on the angle iron bars 48, as is seen in FIGURE 3. Each troughis preferably formed of sheet metal to a desired shape and has a pair ofangle iron tracks therein at 104 to support a removable wire mesh screen106 beneath each tank.

The top trough communicates with the lower trough through pipe 108 andthe lower trough communicates through strainer 110 and pipe 112 toreservoir 20. The latter has an access cover at 114 through whichadditional liquid can be added. A pump 22 is connected to the reservoir20 and has an outlet hose 116 whereby the liquid can be recirculated toany of the tumbling tanks.

In operation, the articles to be tumbled, such as jewelry, are placed ina tank and a suitable supply of liquid is added, such as soapy water.Any other liquids susceptible of use may be utilized, as will beunderstood. After rotatably driving the tank for a period of time, themotor is stopped, the cover removed as above described and the contentsdrop down onto the screen and the liquid passes into the trough and downto the reservoir for re-use. The screen with the tumbled articles thencan be removed.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that I have provided animproved tumbling machine which fulfills the objects hereinbeforeenumerated.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claim rather than bythe description preceding it, and all changes that fall within the metesand bounds of the claim or that form its functional as well asconjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to beembraced by this claim.

I claim:

A tumbling machine comprising a framework, at least a pair of watertight tanks rotatably journalled on said framework, each of said tankshaving an opening through which the items to be tumbled and the tumblingliquid can be introduced and removed, a closure for the opening in eachof said tanks, means sealingly, releasably clamping each said closure toits respective tank, drive means connected to one of said tanks foreffecting rotation thereof, coupling means drivingly interconnecting thesecond of said pair of tanks with said one tank, a liquid collectingtrough carried by said framework below each of said tanks to collectliquid from the tanks after completion of the tumbling operation, and aseparator screen removably mounted in each of said troughs for isolatingthe items from the liquid after tumbling, and a central supply reservoirfor the liquid having communication with said troughs to receive theliquid therefrom, and pump means on said reservoir for redistributingthe liquid to any of said tanks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LaingJan 21, Kerr Apr. 30, Angelus Mar. 30, Knox Nov. 19, Sheerin Feb. 27,Page Apr. 12,

